Harbaugh: Gore, Whitner will play vs. Eagles

Jim Harbaugh said running back Frank Gore (ankle), safety Donte Whitner (hip) and wide receiver Michael Crabtree (foot) would be active against the Eagles on Sunday after being limited in practice this week.

“I expect them to play,” Harbaugh said of the trio.

Speaking on a conference call before the team’s final practice in Youngstown this afternoon, Harbaugh said wide receiver Braylon Edwards (knee) and fullback Moran Norris (fibula) are the only players who would miss Sunday’s game. Edwards and Norris have remained in the Bay Area to rehabilitate their injuries.

Of the three players on the injury report this week, the status of Gore and Whitner were the most in question. On Thursday, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio had termed Whitner “highly questionable” after he was unable to finish Wednesday’s practice.

In the portion of practice open to the media Thursday, Gore was more involved than he had been the previous day when he was a spectator. On Thursday, Gore took part in a pass-protection drill, lightly shuffling his feet as he blocked an assistant coach posing as a blitzing defender.

After practice at Youngstown State this afternoon, the 49ers will fly to Philadelphia.